About This Event
The Shawnee Hills Trail Races unfold across Illinois' Shawnee National Forest, where runners navigate technical single-track through the state's most rugged terrain. Based at Camp Ondessonk near Ozark, this multi-distance event showcases the ancient sandstone bluffs, dense hardwood forests, and challenging rock gardens that define southern Illinois trail running. The weekend format creates a vibrant trail community atmosphere where runners of all ambitions gather to test themselves against this unforgiving but beautiful landscape.
Choose Your Distance
Half Marathon
The course follows a figure-eight loop design through the sandstone canyons of Shawnee National Forest, with 80% singletrack trail and connecting fire roads. Technical terrain dominates, featuring rocks, roots, creek crossings, and persistent elevation changes that range from 50 to 150 feet per segment. The route traverses Jackson Hollow and skirts Bay Creek Reservoir while linking multiple waterfall systems including Jackson Falls, Horseshoe Falls, and Cedar Falls, culminating at Pakentuck Falls. Distance variations use different combinations of the loop system: the 100-mile starts with a short 3-mile section followed by three 32-mile loops, while the 100K covers two full loops, the 50K runs one complete loop, and the half marathon follows the western section. Scenic highlights include views from Salomon's Ridge and passage through the diverse forest ecosystems that characterize the region.
50K
The course follows a figure-eight loop design through the sandstone canyons of Shawnee National Forest, with 80% singletrack trail and connecting fire roads. Technical terrain dominates, featuring rocks, roots, creek crossings, and persistent elevation changes that range from 50 to 150 feet per segment. The route traverses Jackson Hollow and skirts Bay Creek Reservoir while linking multiple waterfall systems including Jackson Falls, Horseshoe Falls, and Cedar Falls, culminating at Pakentuck Falls. Distance variations use different combinations of the loop system: the 100-mile starts with a short 3-mile section followed by three 32-mile loops, while the 100K covers two full loops, the 50K runs one complete loop, and the half marathon follows the western section. Scenic highlights include views from Salomon's Ridge and passage through the diverse forest ecosystems that characterize the region.
100K
The course follows a figure-eight loop design through the sandstone canyons of Shawnee National Forest, with 80% singletrack trail and connecting fire roads. Technical terrain dominates, featuring rocks, roots, creek crossings, and persistent elevation changes that range from 50 to 150 feet per segment. The route traverses Jackson Hollow and skirts Bay Creek Reservoir while linking multiple waterfall systems including Jackson Falls, Horseshoe Falls, and Cedar Falls, culminating at Pakentuck Falls. Distance variations use different combinations of the loop system: the 100-mile starts with a short 3-mile section followed by three 32-mile loops, while the 100K covers two full loops, the 50K runs one complete loop, and the half marathon follows the western section. Scenic highlights include views from Salomon's Ridge and passage through the diverse forest ecosystems that characterize the region.
100 Miles
The course follows a figure-eight loop design through the sandstone canyons of Shawnee National Forest, with 80% singletrack trail and connecting fire roads. Technical terrain dominates, featuring rocks, roots, creek crossings, and persistent elevation changes that range from 50 to 150 feet per segment. The route traverses Jackson Hollow and skirts Bay Creek Reservoir while linking multiple waterfall systems including Jackson Falls, Horseshoe Falls, and Cedar Falls, culminating at Pakentuck Falls. Distance variations use different combinations of the loop system: the 100-mile starts with a short 3-mile section followed by three 32-mile loops, while the 100K covers two full loops, the 50K runs one complete loop, and the half marathon follows the western section. Scenic highlights include views from Salomon's Ridge and passage through the diverse forest ecosystems that characterize the region.